Piercing earring



- Aug. 4, 1953 L. FERRO PIERCING EARRING Filed May 12, 1949 JNVENTOR.

$1M aw Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED .i. STATES PATIENT" 1 g Louis Ferro, Providence-R. I.

Application May 12, 1949, Serial o.- 92,776

My invention relates to improvements in the method of making piercing earrings, particularly the body portions thereof, which speeds up the manufacture of said earring bodies many times,

resulting inthe consequent lowering of the cost of the manufacture of said products.

Employing my method, I perform as many of v the piercing and cutting steps as possible at one time, specifically four at one time, thus speeding up the manufacture of such earring body portions approximately ten times, permitting them to be manufactured at the rate of 1500 per hour.

I am aware that piercing earrings, havin a body portion of geometric shape, usually cylindrical, have been provided having an ear lobe receiving slit near the upper end thereof and an ear wire having a radially outwardly projecting U shaped loop straddling said slot and piercing the ear lobe. In both the prior art and in accordance with my invention, the ear wire is pivotally mounted on one end of said body portion, passes through a piercing in the ear lobe and has its free end locked to the opposite upper end of said bodyportion. In the prior art, while the body portions have been made of flat stock, it has been thought necessary to provide a pivot pin to 1 Claim. (01; 63-12)] pivot the ear wire on it, and for this purpose it has been necessary to roll up a tubular hinge or provide other means on the body portion itself for holding apivot pin, or if the body portion were made of tubular stock, mounting a pivot pin between the end walls thereof. slow, expensive and laborious process. I

In accordance with my invention, I obviate the necessity of. .mounting a pivot pin on the body portion by providing a pivot bar in the body por-' tion itself between a suitably formed pivot hole and an elongated pivot slit of substantially the width of the ear wire, so that the pivoting end of said ear wire may be looped about said bar and be guided in its pivotal movement by the side walls of said slit. I thus provide a construction in which the pivot bar itself may be readily stamped out of the flat stock and in addition provide a structure which guides the pivotal movement of the ear wire-in use, a function not achieved by prior types ofpivot pins.

I also provide a structure which may be manufactured by the mere removal of metal or cutting out parts from the flat stock itself to provide the pivot bar, which removal of stock may be .ac-v complished at the same time as theremoval of other stock to sever the body itself from the strip of flat stock, of which it is formed, and to shape the lug or catch for thev free .end of, theear wire.

This has been a in other words to provide a structure wherein all cut-outs may be made simultaneously, thereby speeding. up .the production, as stated, tenfold.

A further object of my invention is to eliminate the employment of pivot pins in a piercing earring ofv this particular type, resulting in a moreeasily made two piece structure.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a piece of flat stockmovedagainst a stop just after it has had all cutting operations performed thereon at one or two body portion distances. from said stop and illustrating the first body portion separated from the strip of fiat stock.

Fig. 2 is a plan view similar toFig. 1, illustrat ing how thestrip of fiat stock may be advanced for the second identical cutting operation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the piece of-flat stock after it has beenshapedin the form of a closed geometricfigure havingan ear lobe re.- ceiving slot therein.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ear wire.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an individual earring body portion and ear wire after the ear wire has been mounted in position thereon, showing the ear wire in open position.

Fig. 6 isa perspective view of the earring shown in Fig. '5after the ear-wire has been inserted througha pierced hole in an ear lobe, shown in dotted lines, with thefree end thereof inserted in the catch. v 5

Fig. '7 is a detailedsectionalview of the end of the earwire showing howit is looped around the pivot bar formedinthe body portion intermediate the slit and the pivot hole. v

Fig. 8 is a similar sectional view to Fig. 7 showing the same parts of a different embodiment of my invention comprising a tubular bodyportion.

Fig. ,91is a perspective view like Fig. 6 of a different embodiment ofmy invention in which the flat stockis bent in the form of a truncated diamond. I l In the; drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicate like parts throughout, 10, [0, l0 indicate piercing earrings constructed in accordance with-my invention. Said earrings comprise thebody portion I 2, l2", I 2-' and the piercing ear wire I4, l4, l4". In all embodiments of my invention, the bodyportion J2, l2, i2" is preferably made of a closed geometric shape,,in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 -7 comprising fiat stock made in the form ofqa closed cylinder, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 comprising a tubular structure made in the form of a closed cylinder and in the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 comprising fiat stock bent into a truncated diamond shape. The tubular structure shown in Fig. 8 may be initially constructed of wide fiat stock, but having its center portions exactly similar to those of the body portions made of narrower flat stock and then" have its edges rolled into tubular shape after the desired cuttings have been made therein. In all embodiments, said body portion I2, I2, I2" has an ear lobe receiving slot I6, I6, I6" in the upper end thereof. The embodiment shown in Figs; 1-? has a lug I8 projecting radially upwardly from an end thereof and the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 has a similar lug I8" projecting upwardly, both said embodiments, said lug I8 or I8" having anear wire tip receiving hole or 20" therein.

Inaocordance with my invention, I provide a novel type oi means for P'ivotally mounting an iid 22, 22', 22" of an upwardly looped ear wire I4, f4" or I4" on the upper end of said body portion opp site said lug I8, IB or I8". In accordancewit-h my invention said means comprises the slit 24, 24'", 24' extending inwardly a distance from said end 26, 26, 26", and a pivot hole 28, 28", 28'" spaced inwardly a short distance from the inner end of said slit providing an earwire pivot bar 30, 39' IgI I' between said slit 24, 24', 24" and hole 28, 2'8, 28

As stated, the end 22, 22, 22" of the upwardly looped ear wire I4, I4, I4", namely, the lower pivot end 22, a 22', 22 projects downwardly through said slit 24, 2'4, 24", as shown, to be guided in its pivotal movement by the walls 32, f2, 92 of said slot and has a tip 34, 34", 34" extending underneath said bar 3II, 302 upwardiy through said hole 28,28, 28": and downwardly over said pivot bar 30, 30', 30". substantially looping said pivot bar. The opposite end of said ear wire I4, I 4', I4" is provided with the latching end 36, 36', 36" which projects outwardly substantially horizontally therefrom and is adapted to be inserted through the hole 20, 20', 20' in said lug or catch I8, I8", I8" to lock said ire-e end 36, 36',- 36 to said catch after the free end has been inserted through a suitable piercing hole 38 in the ear lobe 40 as shown in Fig. 6, with said lobe hole 38 containing the upper end of said upwardly looped ear wire I4, I4 or I4".

As stated, and as sho n Figs. 1 and 2, my invention also particularly I lates to the nithod of making a piercing earring, partieulaily' the Body portion thereof. Tdmalre said body portiot'l, Said method preferably com rises removing material from a continuous Strip of fiat stock 44. The fiat stock 44 preferably comprises a strip of metal, although it may consist of plastic or other material, preferably comprising a standard type of jewelry metal such as copper, brass, silver, gold, gold plate, etc. I specifically remove a transverse piece 42 of material from said contin'uou's piece of flat stock 44 at a spaced distance from the outer end thereof to sever an earring body portion I2 therefrom, while forming the slit 24 extending a distance inwardly from the outer end of said strip 44 and a substantiallycircular lug It ro ecting inwardly substantially centrany of said cut oil? body portion I2. I also form an ear wire end receiving hole 20 substantially centrally of said circular lug I 8 and form the pivot hole 28 spaced inwardly a short distance beyond the inner end ofsaid slit 24 in the outer end of said strip 44 forming an ear wire pivot bar 30 4 between said slit 24 and hole 28. I then bend said lug I8 outwardly, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-7, radially outwardly, to bring the ear wire tip receiving hole 20 in alignment with the end 36 of the ear wire I4 when mounted in the manner to be explained. I then suitably shape said body portion I2 in the form of a closed geometric iigure, preferably by a suitable press, in the embodiment shown in: Figs. 1-7, in the form of a cylinder'and in the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 in the form of a truncated diamond, with said geometric figure having the radial slot I6 or I 5" therein to receive the ear lobe in the manner ct wire of a length to form an ear wire I4 and bend it in theform of a radially outwardly projecting o-shaped loop I4 as shown in Fig. 4 or take an ear wire already so shaped. I then loop the tip 34 of the pivotend of said ear wire I4 underneath said pivot bar 30, upwardly through said hole 2'8 and over said pivot bar' 30 to substantiauy abut the loop portion I4 thereof to pivotally mount said ear wire on said pivot bar 30' so" that its outer end 36 may pierce the hole 38 in the ear lobe 40, with the upper end thereof being drawn to within said pierced hole 3'8 and so that said then free outer end 36 may then be inserted through the hole 20 in the lug or catch I8 to attach the earring to the ear.

, I have diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 my preferred type of method for'the mass production of earring body portions I2 as shown in Fig. 1'. I advance the continuous strip of metal 44 in the form of flat stock against the stop 46 and substantially simultaneously at a two body distance 48 from said stop id-punch the catch hole 20 and the aligned horizontal slit 24 in said stock at a spaced distance 30' inwardly of said hole, and at a one body distance 50 from said stop 46, remove material 42 shown in dotted lines therein transversely of said strip 44' from near the outer end of said slit 24 to a short distance outwardly beyond said hole 20, leaving the substantially circular lug I8 projecting inwardly around said hole 20 and severing the end of said strip 44 to provide the earring body I2 and opening the outer end of said slit 24 and simultaneously form the pivot hole 28 in the then outer end of said strip 44 a short distance inwarcly or said slit' 26 in alignment therewith. It is obvious that I do all the cutting steps at once, namely, cut the slit 24, cut the catch hole 20 at a two body distance 48 from said stop 48 and at a one body distance 50 from said stop 46,

. remove the transverse strip or material 42 from between the outer end of said strip 44 and the inner end of the thus formed body portion I2 at a distance and of a shape 'to open upthe outer end of said longitudinal slit 24 and to provide the lug 20 projecting inwardly from said body portion I2 and at the same time form the pivot hole 28 inwardly of and in alignment with said slit 24.

It is obvious that by doing all of these cutting operations at once I am able to greatly speed up the time necessary to produce the body portions and it is also obvious that by successively advancing said str'ip after each cutting substantially the length of an earring body portion I2 and successively repeating said cutting steps simultaneously that I am able to successively produce piercing earring body portions.

It is also obvious that the step of shaping the body portions into cylindricaL-truncated dia- -Z mond or other shapes is essentially simple and quick on a standard type of press.

If it be desired to construct a tube of the type shown in Fig. 8, it is obvious that it is merely necessary to employ a wider piece or flat stock than shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and have the same cutting operations performed on it as in the narrower strip now shown in Figs. 1 and 2, after which the edges of the wider strip may be rolled over to tubular form in the manner indicated in Fig. 8.

I preferably shape the ear wire [4 in the form shown in Fig. 4 prior to assembly. and the assembly of the ear wire is relatively simple. With the inner end 34 of the ear wire bent almost in the form of a closed loop, as shown, it is obvious that it may be readily inserted downwardly in the slit and have its tip inserted upwardly through the pivot hole 28, so that its end may be readily bent downwardly over the pivot bar 30 by the worker in assembly. The worker then merely has to squeeze the loop [4 together and bring the free end 36 opposite the hole 20 in the catch or lug [8 to insert said end 36 therein on release thereof, when the earring is completely assembled.

It is obvious that I have provided a novel type of piercing earring which may be readily made in mass production and which dispenses with the necessity of any separate pivot pins, with their attendant diificulty of attachment to the body portion and with the other advantages set forth above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A piercing earring comprising a piece of fiat stock bent into the form of a substantially closed body of geometric shape, having an ear lobe re- 6. ceiving slot at the upper end thereof, having a lug projecting radially upwardly from an end thereof, having an ear wire tip receiving hole therein andmeans for pivotally mounting an upwardly looped ear wire on the opposite end ing underneath said bar, upwardly through said pivot hole and downwardly over said pivot bar, substantially looping said pivot bar, and a latching end projecting outwardly from the opposite lower end of said ear wire loop adapted to be inserted through said hole in said lug.

LOUIS FERRO.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 43,458 Moseley July 5, 1864 83,486 Griggs Oct. 27, 1868 245,297 Heckmann Aug. 9, 1881 281,088 Liddle July 10, 1883 594,676 Chaffee Nov. 30, 1897 1,139,309 Nesler May 11, 1915 2,118,740 Schutte May 24, 1938 2,252,851 Hoffenberg Aug. 19. 1941 2,420,531 Francis May 13, 1947 2,477,780 Armstrong Aug. 2, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 179,481 Germany Oct. 19, 1905 206,616 Switzerland Apr. 17, 1939 

